Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Candle Season 2015 is done. All but the clean up and one final delivery this afternoon. I woke this morning thinking about plans to retake photos for my websites and Etsy shop. Can't wait!! But it will wait because I must finish Christmas shopping now. I have a fair amount to do and so am scoping out last minute sales to get some larger ticket items. Pretty cool....I think. We'll see if it actually works out like I'm planning.

Saturday evening we met Mom, Georgia, Michael and Emily at Lititz Moravian for the annual Love Feast. This is a special service with music and sweet bread. Oh, do they make it well. Traditionally we went to York Moravian because that was the church Georgia grew up in... but with Lititz being closer we have switched our location. This was the church as we approached it Saturday Evening.

Saturday and Sunday nearly did me in with all that had to happen and how everything had to go just right to make it all work. My head was literally spinning when I went to bed Saturday night. But both days did go as planned. Sunday's big event was our Christmas Service, which came after a Communion Worship Service and Fellowship Meal. Every year this service is a bit unique because the service is made up of gifts and talents of our congregation. Sometimes it is heavy on music, and we had plenty, but also this year we had three offerings of writing talent. Pastor Jack read two of his original Christmas Poems.

Jack is our Associate Pastor. He is in his 90's and adored by all. He says what he thinks and it can be very interesting. We are so thankful at God's preserving hand on his life. There is a lot of experience and wisdom in this former veterinarian turned Pastor.

I don't have a photo of Kelly reading her original story of an Unlikely Savior to the children but they were very into it. You could tell by their reactions. The giggles...and answers to Kelly's questions. We truly believe the scripture that tells us that "whatsoever you do, do ALL to the glory of God". That includes the arts and creative sides of ourselves. We encourage each other in our gifts.

The final offering of creative writing was that of a young lady who took part with her family in the lighting of our final advent candle. She wrote a portion of the reading they used to express the meaning of the "Christ candle".

We did have our fair share of musical talent as well. This young lady played her violin with her brother and a few other musicians who are hidden behind the piano.

It was very special. She is a quiet girl who is studying to be a missionary. We love seeing our young people grow and seek God's will in their lives. He is faithful!

I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked because I had too much to do with playing the piano and singing. But it was a very good time and I'm thankful that it all came together.

Yesterday was a very full day! Wow! In my planning it was going to be a laid back slower paced day. But instead it was a jam packed full very fun and rewarding day. Between my phone being so very busy, visiting new friends, Christmas shopping, lunch with my girl, candle deliveries, taking a friend to work and a Christmas Dinner event with my mom it was full, full, full. But I wouldn't change a thing.

I'll bet you are pretty busy. It seems that most of us are right now. I only hope that you are busy with joyful things. We are very excited to see my brother, sister in law and her sister later this week. We have plans to make gingerbread houses, go to a Christmas Eve Service, Eat a lot, and share gifts with each other. We will not forget that this is a birthday celebration. For our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is almost time to Party!! But first....a few more gifts to find. A few more sales to enjoy and some much anticipated time with family visiting from Florida and Chicago. Gotta run....

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Of course you know I'm deep in candle season. Quite deep, in fact. It has been a very good time. I love having my workshop! I am not using this space as efficiently as is possible yet but that just means that next year will be even more smooth than this year. I cannot begin to tell you how much it meant to be able to "get away" from it for some time each day. When I worked in the kitchen I was never away...unless I wasn't in the house. That was major stress. I loved it but I also got sick every year. This year....no bad cold. :-) I'm thankful. This upcoming week is my last week before Christmas. I have a LOT to make for the last two groups but then I can close the door and come back when I am ready to clean organize and consider changes to make the flow better. I'll be working on some other details as well. Like wicks. I made some changes that work well but leave the candle vulnerable to a slower start if placed in a drafty place (like I just did). Sometimes you don't see a possible issue until you burn in different conditions than the usual testing spot. If I'm not 150 percent happy then it isn't right. And so January will be a new time of wick testing. Some things are just user error but when possible I want my candles to be fool proof.

A jump start and evaluation of current wicks.

Mind you....I always test before putting new wicks out there

but there is always room for improvement.

The great news is.....

I've done other fun things too!

Like the Christmas Party for the theater that the rest of my family works for!

Oh.my.goodness!

I so totally loved the venue.

My family didn't see me for the longest time because I had to check everything out.

It was at the Train Museum in Strasburg.

All of these years I have passed by that place where the tourists go

and didn't realize how amazing it is.

It is huge!

So many full size engines and train cars to explore and enjoy.

As we walked to the building we could see a wall of glass and coming toward us on the inside

were these adorable people.

Chelsea and Chadd got there before we did.

I motioned for them to pose....and they did...sort of.

I got Chelsea still moving.

But look how great they look.

So much more "grown up" for all they have been through.

I was looking at photos from the day they got engaged and couldn't

believe the physical changes in both of them in just four months.

Can you see it?
Or is it just this mama knowing how intense it has been
and seeing the growth and maturity forced from
such hard times?

In my explorations I noticed amazing music coming from the speakers.

It was so beautiful that the thought ran through my head

that I wished it was live.

How cool would that be??

And then I came around a train....

And there they were!

The sound was amazing....

I can't rave enough.

Before the night was over people were dancing and it was a very happy scene.

In other years the company has used Hess's Barbecue as the caterer.

I have been driving by Hess's location in a nearby town quite a bit lately and have been getting more and more hungry for it.

Well....While I don't have photos of the food, I did get my wish!

Hess's was the caterer.

They did a fabulous job as always.

Since I can't eat bread, due to the headaches it gives me, it is wonderful to be able to

have such wonderfully flavored meat and barbecue sauce.

There were some tables and chair groupings scattered amongst the trains.

We ended up getting a table and next thing we knew right over our heads came these people.

Those trains are tall and they were on the platform.

That is a co-worker, Emily, with them.

She is a great friend and is going to be a bridesmaid.

But that isn't all I've done!

I continued to attend Change of Pace through this crazy time.

Sometimes it was just for the worship time due to strict deadlines

and others it was for worship and part of the video or for time in the prayer room

but I made it!

It was needed. Time out with the Lord and other ladies is just the boost we need

sometimes to keep on going.

This past week was the last for 2015 and it was so special.

After studying First, Second and Third John we were ready to put

the Love of God into practice.

Sixteen ladies were nominated and chosen to be

"Queen for a Day".

These were ladies who did not attend Change of Pace but of whom

someone from the study knew needed a bit of extra love.

I arrived to practice and found gifts being set up under the trees for our queens.

I also found our "sound lady" IN the trees searching for controls to make some stop blinking.

Such dedication!

Kathy and her family are moving out west and we are really, really going to miss her.

She would problem solve until she got the answer!

And always with a smile.

One of the "Queens for a Day" ended up spending it in the ultimate way.

She lost her fight with cancer the day before we hoped to honor her here.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

This is perfectly strange timing for a post such as this but it is also the time that I have to write what has been on my mind for a while now. Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. A day that hearkens back to the very origination of our country. I love the United States of America. It is all I know and it is the best I can imagine on many levels. However, thinking about it the other day I understand that our coming was total disaster to the Native Americans who were living here at the time. We brought disease, a sense of self importance which pushed them from their homes and many other disturbing things to their lives. Someone posted a cartoon photo of the Native Americans standing with signs saying they were not taking refugees. Well? What if? Their lives would have been greatly improved. But...that is not the point of this post.

So, what is then, you ask? It is this. Over the past decade there has been a very strong, and successful trend to rewrite history. Most recently at Princeton where some students want all references to Woodrow Wilson erased due to his racial views. President Woodrow Wilson lived in a time where racism was a given. It appears that he was very extreme in his views and actions. I believe with all of my heart that God created all human beings to be equal. I don't believe it is anywhere near right to raise one skin color or culture over another. However, in history there was racism. Today there is still racism. That is completely and totally wrong and not based on the teachings of the Bible. However, history is something to be learned from....and not erased. Can we please use this as an opportunity to have a civil conversation? To change our ways and not our history?

When Joe Paterno was being investigated for how much he knew of the absolutely horrible actions of Jerry Sandusky a panel decided that they would just erase his lifetime of work. Really? When did this become possible? Accomplishments by hundreds of players, staff and even fans could be written off as if they had never occurred? I guess so....since it has become the policy in the classrooms.
Don't like what actually happened? Just delete or rewrite. If they can get away with it so publicly....

How can we avoid the same pitfalls that our predecessors made if we don't see what they were and what the outcome was? History books are omitting or putting a spin on much important history these days. This next generation is at a disadvantage.

History is NOT to be about putting forth what we WISHED had happened or what we hope WILL happen. It is about the truth of what has happened and what we can learn both positively and negatively from it.

Recently there was a rewriting of the NIV version of the Bible. Those writers decided to gender neutralize it. Seriously???

We are at a very serious crossroads in our country and our churches. One in which we will either learn from past mistakes or do it all over again. I wonder if we know enough to make the right choices? I pray there is still enough truth out there to prevail. Whatever the case, our Heavenly Father has not and cannot be edited and His Spirit still speaks to the hearts and minds of His people. Here's hoping we listen and obey.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving Day. May it be blessed by the truth of the wonder of community loving and serving each other. I hope you are celebrating with family and perhaps some who don't have family nearby. We will celebrate with family from a distance and some cousins I've never met. And now, I should go put the ham in. Mom has the turkey started at her house. See ya!

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All advice, percieved or blatant, comes from me, personally as a friend, should not be construed to represent any company that I work for or with.I am simply offering observations from life and experience. This is my personal blog and not intended for business purposes.